Wallis Dermatology Associates is the First Practice in EastTexas to Own the Revolutionary truSculpt™ 3D by Cutera… A New Dimension in Body Sculpting

Longview TX– Wallis Dermatology Associates announced today that they have acquired the truSculpt 3D, the newest advancement in circumferential reduction and nonsurgical body sculpting by Cutera, which offers up to 24 percent fat thickness reduction in a single treatment as measured by ultrasound.

“We at Wallis Dermatology Associates seek to offer the safest and most effective aesthetic solutions by investing in the latest technologies. We are thrilled to add a groundbreaking radio frequency device that significantly improves the standard of care and patient experience,” said Dr. Mark Wallis, owner and CEO of Wallis Dermatology Associates. “For our patients seeking to sculpt areas resistant to diet and exercise, truSculpt 3D offers excellent results in just one treatment without any downtime or side effects. We are very excited to bring these benefits to our patients.”

truSculpt 3D utilizes a controlled, monopolar radio frequency (RF) technology at 2 MHz to deliver targeted, uniform heating of the subcutaneous adipose tissue to achieve the highest clinical efficacy in the shortest possible treatment time. Focusing on three specific characteristics – dimension, definition, and depth – truSculpt® 3D offers an optimized and customizable approach to body sculpting for most size areas, large or small.

How many of us can hear our parent say, “Did you put your sunscreen on?” Have you ever been chased by your mother trying to apply it for you? Despite being nagged, we should be aware that sunscreen is an important tool in successful skin care. It’s important to know what to look for when making a purchase. Look for the Seal of Recommendation on the bottle. This is a symbol of safe and effective sun protection recognized by consumers worldwide.
The following are helpful hints about proper sun protection.
1. Sunscreens need to have both UVA/UVB coverage in order to be effective. Most available sunscreens have UVB coverage. In order to obtain this dual coverage, look for ingredients such as Parsol (also known as avobenzone), mexoryl, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide. If they have at least one of these ingredients, you have some UVA coverage.
2. Sunscreen should be applied generously to sun exposed skin at least 20 minutes prior to sun exposure. It takes about 1 teaspoon to provide ample sun protection for the face and 2-4 tablespoons for the body depending on the size of the individual.
3. Sunscreen should be reapplied every 2-3 hours if you are outside for extended periods. You should always reapply after swimming.
4. If you have sensitive skin or rosacea, avoid alcohol-based products or those with an SPF greater than 30.
5. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, use lighter lotions or alcohol-based sunscreens. For everyday use, sunscreens with an SPF 15 to 30 should be used. An SPF 50 can cause irritation in sensitive skin and does not provide as much protection as you would expect from the number. Time at the beach or other athletic activities may require the higher SPF 30 and reapplication every 2 hours.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that you do a head-to-toe self-examination of your skin every month, so you can find any new or changing lesions that might be cancerous or precancerous.
Additional advice listed below was developed to make it easy to know how best to care for skin- to be SunAWARE.
■Avoid unprotected exposure to sunlight, seek shade, and never indoor tan.
■Wear sun protective clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses year1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that you do a head-to-toe self-examination of your skin every month, so you can find any new or changing lesions that might be cancerous or precancerous.
■Apply recommended amounts of broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) >30 to all exposed skin and reapply every two hours, or as needed.
■Routinely examine your whole body for changes in your skin and report concerns to a parent or healthcare provider.
■Educate your family and community about the need to be SunAWARE.
We hope these tips are helpful. So, whether you’re fishing, golfing, playing tennis, or working outdoors, remember to be SunAWARE. Here’s to taking care of the skin you’re in!

They say that eyes are the windows to the soul If you believe this, then you agree that the eyelids are the window treatments that you see the soul through. Many people don’t come to see me seeking treatment for around the eyes but after they are treated there they absolutely love how refreshed, awake, and youthful small tweaks to the eyelids have made them feel. There are lots of safe, effective treatments for the eyelids but beware this is a high risk area to treat and you should seek an expert healthcare provider when treating this area. Here are some of my favorite treatment options for treating lines, wrinkles, crepe paper like eyelids skin dark circles and dreaded “bags.”

1. Blepharoplasty- This is a surgery where they repair or reconstruct the eyelid. We don’t perform this at Wallis Dermatology Associates but this is a good option for some people.

2. Filler- I personally think this is the easiest way to “botch” the eyelids. It’s a high risk area to inject and can even cause blindness. Sometimes if you inject midface instead it can pull the skin under the eyes which looks natural and works wonders. Warning: seek an expert, please!

3. Botox- the FDA has approved 24 units for “crow’s feet” if your main focus is to enhance your smile while softening your “crow’s feet” the Botox is the way to go. Warning: seek an expert. When injected incorrectly this could cause a “shelf” look to the cheek when smiling. FYI: This is my personal favorite location to have injected. It opens my eyes to help me look so refreshed compared to how tired I am with two kids under 3. I also love that my make-up no longer settles in my lines when I smile because I don’t have those lines anymore therefore my makeup stays in place and looks smooth!

4. Growth Factor- This is the precursor to collagen. It’s a hot ingredient right now and guess what? You don’t have to pay all that money for a poorly studied procedure (cough, vampire facial, cough) to get the benefits of growth factor. It is an unstable molecule so you need a good researched skin care product to reap the benefits. My favorite is ZO Growth Factor Serum. It works it’s like magic and it can’t be reproduced. It tells your collagen factory, which starts slacking with age, to make more collagen. I recommend for acne prone skin, damaged skin, aging skin and anyone who does micro needling. If you tend to be dry it has moisturizing properties which help nourish the skin.

5. Hyaluronic Acid- They Hydrating Serum we now carry is a current addiction of mine. Imagine a cream that fairies make with water from the fountain of youth and then travel via unicorn to a factory where it’s bottled up just for your skin. That’s the feeling I get and what I dream of as I apply The Hydrating Serum to my face. I wish I could take a bath in it so my skin stays forever young and forever moisturized. It contains Hyaluronic Acid which gives your skin an instant plumping and when used over time it allows your skin to make more collagen resulting in reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, redness and irritation. Come get you some, you can thank me later. Your eyelids will go from scratchy potato sacks to silk curtains before you know it!

6. Sunscreen- To prevent premature photo aging around the eyes you should apply at least a 30 SPF Broad spectrum, waterproof sunscreen daily and then reapply every 2 hours while outdoor. My favorite is the Elta 40 tinted. It’s moisturizing and tinted to help reduce the natural redness I have and gives me some color.

7. Revitalash- This is a nonprescription lash serum that is effective for lengthening, darkening and thickening lashes! It’s very cost effective compared to eyelash extensions but it is also great to use with eyelash extensions. Many people don’t realize how not having dark, thick long lashes really can mature your appearance.

8. Ablative- This is thought of like some people may think of laser, but it is not a true laser because there is no laser light. Its essentially micro needling that causes a thermal change in the skin to give you the awesome results a lot faster but with a little bit more down time. It breaks up the top layer of skin and makes your body rebuild collagen. It tightens the skin helping fine lines, wrinkles, crepe paper like skin and sagging around the eyes. There is some downtime with this procedure and we normally treat the entire face instead of just around the eyes, but when you see before and after pictures of people who have had this done, you won’t care of what kind of labor you have to go through to get those babies!

9. Micro needling- Less down time than the ablative and when used with that awesome ZO Growth Factor you can get some really awesome results that will leave your skin looking refreshed and retextured!

10. ZO Intensive Eye Repair- An awesome eye cream that really works. It has a whisper of retinol in it to help rebuild collagen and elastin and smooth out those fine lines and wrinkles! It also has Optical Light Diffusers to help reflect light to help hide imperfections.
I encourage you to come see us at Wallis Dermatology and let us consult with what would be the best option for you to refresh and renew those window curtains to the soul!

There are certain things in life that make you feel good; make you want to turn the music up in the car and dance the whole way home. On Friday I got my hair done, and I LOVE it! It put me in such a good mood. I wanted to celebrate how it made me feel. Maybe the older you get in life the more the small things grow in importance and significance and I have reached the age where a great cut and color is the highlight of my week. Or maybe when you look good you really do feel good. Whatever the reason, I know that my mood can go from great to dancing in the streets after a good haircut, massage, date-night, or filler. That’s the real reason I get Botox, laser, invest in skin care, color my hair, get a pedicure, shop the new styles and try new make-up. We want to look good to feel good.
Laser hair reduction is probably the most universal cosmetic skin procedure. Men and woman of all ages can benefit from laser hair reduction. If you have unwanted dark hairs we can do laser hair reduction on your upper lip, chin, underarms, abdomen, bikini area, legs and back. So I thought I would do a little re-cap overview on laser hair reduction.
1. You can’t get lasered when you have a tan; fake or real. It can cause some unwanted side effects.
2. You have to have dark hair. If the hair is blonde the laser won’t work. The laser targets dark hair and if there is nothing to target, then it simply won’t work. This is also why you can’t wax or pluck two weeks before getting lasered, it needs a target. But don’t fret, you can always shave.
3. It requires 4-8 monthly treatments for semi-permanent results.
4. Laser hair reduction of the underarms (we say axillae in the fancy medical world) can also help with excessive sweating.
5. Laser hair reduction can solve the problem of “razor burn” If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 100 times; an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
6. Think of all that money you will save on razors, shaving cream, aftershave, waxing appointments, threading and all other lotions and potions you use for hair reduction.
7. It makes a great gift. Give it to your guy with a hairy back or who hates his beard and wants it forever gone. Give it to your bridesmaids- it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Honestly, everyone has somewhere they would probably like laser hair reduction.
8. There is no downtime. I can have my upper lip lasered and go see patients 5 minutes later and no one can tell. I might be a little red but it covers with make-up, no biggie.
9. We use numbing cream to make it more comfortable so you really have no excuse not to!
10. The actual procedure only takes a few minutes so it’s easy to schedule it into you’re chaotic life.
Laser hair reduction can be life changing. Upper lip hair used to embarrass me, razor burn hurt and itched. If you or someone you know could benefit from laser hair reduction I highly recommend you call and set up a consultation so we can walk you through any questions and get you and appointment to learn more and be treated, safely!

Thanks to my awesome hair dresser for letting me feel like dancing around all weekend. I hope you let Wallis Dermatology Associates help you feel like you can dance in your own skin with pride. I look forward to getting to know you and getting to know my current people even better.

When I was growing up I remember girls putting lemon juice in their hair and sitting outside all day in the summer to make their hair blonder. Because of girls doing this it help lead to a widespread problem called Photodermatits.

Phytophotodermatitis occurs when UV light interacts with citrus juice that is on the skin. Most commonly Lime and lemon juice. Any race can be affected but it can be most easily seen in fair skinned patients. Chefs, bartenders, or other food handlers are at increased risk. It is a nonimmunologic phototoxic dermatitis that occurs with agents in certain plants and exposure to UVA light. It can be confused with poison ivy, poison oak, and herpes zoster infection. It will present as edema, erythema, blistering, pruritis and epidermal desquamation. Treatment includes cool compresses, topical steroids, and antihistamines. Preventive measures include washing the fruit juice off the skin with soap and water and exposure to fruits.

If you have any skin discoloration from contact with citrus juice contact our office, we will be happy to see to get you in!

We let expectations play a huge role in our happiness and satisfaction. If you go out to eat and order steak you expect a steak to arrive at your table. When the waitress brings you a cheeseburger you’re not happy. Why? You like cheeseburgers, a cheeseburger would curb your hunger but you expected a steak to arrive at your table. Even if the steaks aren’t as good as the cheeseburgers at the restaurant you would still want your steak because that’s what you ordered and expected to eat for dinner. The same holds true with Botox. If you expect your lines to be erased with Botox then you’re not going to be satisfied after your money is spent on the injection. But if you know what you’re paying for and that’s what you receive then it’s the best money you spent all month. So here’s what you can expect from Botox so you can really enjoy its full potential. You can treat multiple conditions with Botox; migraines, hyperhidrosis, twitches, the list goes on but for the purpose of this post we are just going to talk about what it’s famous for in Dermatology- lines in motion.

Lines in motion versus lines at rest. It’s important to know the difference between “lines in motion” and “lines at rest.” If you stare into a mirror and frown as hard as you can you’ll see “11” lines between your eyebrows, those are lines in motion. Botox prevents your muscles from being able to make your mean face which is the motion that makes the lines at rest. Overtime, if you keep up with your Botox you will see your lines at rest soften. Soften not disappear. Expect the lines in motion to disappear. But remember, without Botox lines in motion become lines at rest.

Botox lasts 3-6 months. Pray for 6 but expect 3. For some it could be six months and others it could be three. Don’t expect one injection to be all you need in your lifetime. That’s like going to the gym once and expecting that to be all your body needs. Sure it helps, but it’s not going to whip you into shape. Expect multiple treatments.
Botox can start working in 1-3 days but isn’t in full effect for two weeks. Some people may notice one area kicking in quicker. It is what it is at two weeks. Another reason not to come in on your wedding day expecting results.

Interested in Botox? Have more questions? Come see us at Wallis Dermatology! I love doing Cosmetic Consultations.

Have you heard of Kendra Scott? It’s one of the most popular choice for women’s jewelry. They carry everything you can imagine and even allow self-design. Depending on where you live, it can be impossible to get what you want unless of course you order online and wait. The wait is an excruciating painful 7-10 business days and who is patient to pay shipping and wait for their splurge to come in the mail after almost 2 weeks.

The new line just came out and I of course had to get my hands on some. After browsing the only store in own that carries it I quickly knew I was going to order online and wait for my purchase to come in. But if you know Kendra Scott jewelry, you know that I could have gone to almost any boutique and find something that looks almost exactly like the necklace I want. Well, that’s how the world of beauty products works.

People want a Louis Vuitton, but not a knock off. People want a Kylie Jenner Lip Kit, not a NYX kit that basically is the same thing. But why? It’s called marketing and choice. Marketing trains your mind on what’s the latest and greatest and what’s not. You probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference if there was no box, no label, and no proof that it’s not the real thing. A real Louis Vuitton purse however is a higher quality than the knock off, so in most instances you do get what do pay for. That’s where choice plays a big part. Marketing however, primes you to make manufactures choices, which can lead to less safe options.

When it comes to skin care products, how do you know you’re getting what you pay for? How ARE YOU sure if you spend your money, the product is actually going to work? Are you just paying for something that’s been branded into your mind as “good”, but really the same as a dollar general brand just in a different bottle? I’m not sure my answer is good for you because I would wait an extra 7-10 business days for Kendra Scott, and I don’t know if it’s because I truly love it, or the ”marketing”. It’s my job as your skin care expert to make sure you know what products to use and where to get them. That’s the reason we offer skin care products at Wallis Dermatology. We sort through the thousands of options that are available to you. So you can choose what is best for you.
Here are a few tricks to help you start in decision making as it relates to skin care.

1. Sunscreen every morning and Retinol every night. These are the most important! Adding a mineral sunscreen to your morning regimen will help prevent the harsh effects from the sun. Retinol and RetinA help with fine lines, acne, and will give you a nice fresh glow when used properly.

2. Exfoliate, exfoliate, and exfoliate! If you’re not into the gritty scrub feeling, there are light acid exfoliator creams you can apply and leave on all day. Easy huh?

3. Nothing harsh. If it burns when you use it, it’s likely bad for you. You may think “it’s working” but it’s most likely creating big problems for your skin. For example, alcohol based toners that burn are drying and create tons of irritation and redness

4. Avoid fragrance, colors, additives and the frilly products.

5. Do Not Waste Your money! Unless your money grows on trees in your backyard and in that case, what’s your address?

I hope the above reminders and tips are helpful when you are addressing your beauty needs. Next time you are at our beauty counter, ask to speak to an expert about any concern. We have dermatologists on staff because we believe in giving our clients the best service than they pay for. Don’t fall for the marketed products that falsely put “dermatologist recommended” on their packages. Choose intelligently by being knowledgeable and educated, so come see us, we’d love to get you on the right skin care path!